What does Na+ and K+ have to do with renal system in physiology?

Question

renal=kidney=urination

Answer 1

Na and K are two majorly important ions in your body and correct function of the kidneys is vital because the filtration process is indescriminate, everything is filtered out and important stuff must be reabsorbed. Na and K are two of those things that MUST be reabsorbed to continue with normal body function

Answer 2

I am currently on both Na (sodium bicarbonate) and K (potassium) among other things. Na boosts the filtering of the renal system and is not stored but all not used is voided in the urine. A K protector (Klor-con) is essential to renal health and must be retained in the system for as long as possible. K can be depleted easily by diuretics that void stored water in the body.

In the last 6 mos. I have lost 55 lbs + of stored water. Klor-Con protected the K in my system and is still doing the job. I have been at stage IV End Stage Renal Disease for about a year with no dialysis in sight.

Answer 3

The kidney is a very important organ in maintaining the amount of Na+ and K+ in our blood. If there is too much then the kidney will get rid of it. If there is too little, the kidney will try to hold on to as much of it as it can.

There's quite a good page in the wikipedia about this.

You can see the table (and the next link is a picture of the nephron showing all the bits where the table says stuff happens) and you can see that it's quite complex. Na and K is filtered through the glomerulus but a bit more than half of it is reabsorbed in the proximal convoluted tubule. Some more is absorbed in the loop of Henle. More sodium is reabsorbed in the distal convoluted tubule and then varying amounts are absorbed in the collecting duct. Potassium can be excreted (secreted) here if there is excess.